smith



(No Model.) .v

- H. E. SMITH.

IRONING MACHINE.

No. 519,974. Patented May' 15, 1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFrcE.

HAMILTON E. SMITH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IRONING-MACHIN E.

SPECIFICATIdN forming part of Letters Patent No. 519,974, dated May 15,1894.

Application filed January 15, 1894:- Serial No 496,903- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, HAMILTON E. SMITH, i

of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements inIroning-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

0 My invention relates to that type of iron- 1ng machines or maugleswherein an endless apron supported by suitable rollers is arranged toextend partially round a heated, ironing or smoothing cylinder, in suchmannor that articles or goods delivered to the cyliuder and carriedround between the same and the apron are ironed or smoothed and dried.

The object of my invention is to provide new and improved means forraising or lowering the arched portions of the apron be tween theperipheries of the ironing cylinders to increase the efficiency andadaptability of the machine.

To accomplish this object my invention consists in the features ofconstruction and the combination or arrangement of devices hereinat'terdescribed and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawing,in which the figure is a longitudinal sectional View of anironing-machine embodying my invention.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use myinvention, I will now describe the same in detail, referring to thedrawing, wherein-- The numeral 1 indicates a frame supported by legs 2,and constructed in any suitable manner to support the journals of aseries of ironing or smoothing cylinders 3, l and 5. The frame isprovided in proximity to the delivery table 6 with an apron-supportingroller 7, the axis of which is slightly above the level of the deliverytable. At a point on the frame considerably below the axes of theironing cylinders are arranged a series of apron-supporting-rollers 8,9, 10 and 12, and at points between the cylinders are arr. nged a seriesof vertically movable apron-supports 13, which are susceptible of beingraised or lowered through the medium of screw-shafts 15, suitablyengaged with the vertically slidable boxes 16 in which the supports 13,which are composed of rollers, are journaled.

The endless apron 17 is composed of any material ordinarily used for thepurpose and extends around the severalrollers above mentioned, and atthe end of the frame opposite the delivery table 6, a part of this apronis arranged to travel in a horizontal plane, or approximately so, forthe purpose of constituting a moving or traveling feed-section or tableby which the articles or goods to be ironed or smoothed are moved in thedirection of the arrow 18. In order to properly support the apron sothat a part thereof always travels in a horizontal plane as abovestated, I provide two separate rotary supports 19 and 20' having theiraxes preferably arranged in a plane coincident with the axis of theroller 7.

The end of the frame 1, opposite the delivery table 6, is constructed toreceive and support a clothes-basket 21, preferably perforated for theadmission of air to facilitate the drying of the clothes containedtherein. The clothes-basket is arranged some distance from the rotarysupport 20, and between the said basket and that part of the apron whichtravels horizontally between the rotary supports 19 and 20, is arrangeda non-moving feed table 22, composed of a flat board or plate secured ina fixed position to the frame 1 by any suitable means, in such mannerthat the top surface of the feed board or plate lies level with thatpart of the endless apron which travels horizontally. By thisarrangement I provide a stationary feed board or table, and a travelingor. moving feed section composed of a part of the endless apron whichpasses partially round the ironing cylinders, and consequently theattendant can lift the articles or goods out of the clothes-basket 21,and spread them out fiat upon a stationary chject from which they aredelivered to a traveling feed section which carries them direct onto theironing cylinder 3 and between the latter and the endless apron. Thearticles or goods are carried by the apron from one cylinder to theother and are finally delivered from the roller 7 onto the deliverytable 6.

The vertically adjustable rollers 13 render it possible for theattendantat any time, or as occasion may demand, to more or less raisethe arched portions of the apron at points between the ironingoylinders, for the purpose tions of the apron when adjusted to theirhighest position and pass into engagement with the cylinders, heavygoods or articles are liable to improperly pass into engagement- Withthe cylinders 4L and 5, and sometimes bunch or build up between saidcylinders,'for' which reason it is advisable to lower the rollers 13,and thus reduce the elevation of the- "arched portions of the apron foroperating,

on heavy goods or articles.

The intermediate vertically adjustable rollers 13 are not merely totighten the apron, but are particularly designedto more or less raisethe arched parts of the apron between theironingcylinders, and thereforeI provide special apron tighteners, preferably two,-one of which isarranged between the rollers 9' and 10 beneath the cylinder 4 and iscomposed-of a roller 23 which can be raised or Jloweredby a'screw-shaft2i operated in any suitable manner. The other apron tightener iscomposed of the roller 12 which is mounted in a bell-cranklever25'having-a handle 26 so arranged as to be conveniently manipulatedby the attendant standing at the clothesbasket 21'. l

I do not deem it necessary to further describe the apron tighteningdevices as they constitute no part of the claims in the present cas e.

rollers supporting theapron in arches'between the cylinders, and meansfor vertically adjusting saidrollers to Vary the elevation of the archedparts of the apron, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence-of twosubscribing wit- HAMILTON E. 'SMIT H.

WVitnesses:

ALBERT H. NORRIS, J. A. SAUL.

